Known as the land of a million elephants, Laos is the most serene country in Southeast Asia. The landscape is a stunning mix of mist-shrouded mountain peaks flanked by jungle-clad valleys, beautiful French colonial towns, gilded temples, golden Buddhist stupas and the magic of the Mekong. Both physically and spiritually, the world here moves at the pace of the saffron-robed monks, and the skyline is defined by mountains and temples, and cicadas and waterfalls drown out the hum of voices. During this journey, we’ll experience the essence of old Asia with glittering temples, unique hill tribe cultures, and the mighty Mekong flowing through it.

Luang Prabang

The northern province of Luang Prabang and its eponymous capital are among the most atmospheric and popular destinations in Laos. The charming city of Luang Prabang, once the capital of Laos and still considered to be its spiritual heart, breathes a rich meld of French Indochinese architecture, Theravada Buddhist temples and a magical atmosphere. Luang Prabang is strikingly situated on a peninsula formed by the confluence of two rivers, the Mekong and the Khan. Its palm-lined riverbanks, terracotta roofs, golden stupas and saffron-robed monks all come together to form a picture postcard increasingly difficult to find in Southeast Asia.

Landlocked Laos

Landlocked Laos is one of Asia's most enchanting destinations. Stunning natural beauty -- think mist-shrouded mountain peaks flanked by jungle-clad valleys teeming with wildlife -- combine with a fascinating Buddhist culture to make Laos a superb destination for backpackers and independent travellers, while luxury tourists are now also well-catered for. Communist Laos flung open its doors to tourism in the early 1990s. The last two decades have witnessed an explosion in development as businesses -- some Lao, some foreign -- mushroom to cater to the swelling crowds.

The social etiquette in Laos

With their laidback attitude and a deep aversion to confrontation, the Lao are pretty tolerant of foreigners failing local social etiquette. Yet while they may not vocalise their discomfort, they may still form negative impressions of visitors who unwittingly break cultural taboos, often bearing their resentment in silence until an opportunity presents itself to be most unaccommodating toward the offending party. Here are a couple of tips to keep you from embarrassing yourself — and others. The Lao language is quite direct and does not encompass many polite phrases. While ‘thank you’, kop chai, is widely used in interactions, the word for ‘please’ is so rare...